Sorry Shannon

I'm not to blame. Bezzie is.

We were discussing which knitted item will be the most worn at Rhinebeck this year. Last year it was February Lady. I think IFT and I saw 20 or more of them the first day of the fest.

Anyway, she thought maybe this little number would be high on the list - Ishbel (Ravelry Link). I'd not seen it before and when I went to look at it, well. I had to purchase it and start knitting it right away.

I bought this yarn the first year I went to Rhinebeck. It's Brooks Farm Harmony (Harmony has MINIONS?!?*) Shannon has been trying to swap me for it for a couple of years now and since she wouldn't part with any Wollmeise, we were at an impasse. LOL


I think the lace will look great when I've got it blocked. I'm happy with it and it isn't too much of a PIA to tink back, even tho the yarn is mostly mohair.

*for Bezzie

Oh yes I did!

The cammo blanket is finished! It took me a couple of days of dedicated work to get it done and I can't be happier with the results.


The afghans are folded and ready to go to the nephews. They are going away for an overnight trip since they have Monday off from school. They've asked me to take care of their dog while they're away, and I'm going to take the opportunity to leave the afghans on their beds while I'm there. This way they'll come home, go to their rooms and have a nice surprise!


The excitement is contagious.

But we like to sleep on clean sheets!

Almost there!

So close to done on this long term project. All I have to do is finish the boarder on this one. When that's done, I have the Cammo blanket to finish. It's great that we've had a cold snap. Much easier to work on the afghan when I'm not bathed in sweat.


Speaking of borders... I'm almost finished with this little number I've been working on all summer. This is Girasole and I love the way it's come out. I have abo0ut 1/3 of the border to do and then it'll be ready for washing and blocking.


I'm using Lorna's Laces Shephard Sport in Butterscotch for this one. The yarn is so soft and yummy that this shawl will be a favorite of mine for a long time.


The pattern is very easy to follow, and has short repeats so you can easily memorize as you go. I was able to pay attention to the pattern and watch TV or listen to an audio book, so you know it wasn't too complex.


I love it so much I have the yarn for another all ready and waiting. I'd happily knit another pattern by Brooklyn Tweed any time.

But I won't start that one till this one is finished. And the neon green blanket has a border.

Silly Cat

I think Katie's trying to get under the ottoman.

Lately if she isn't on me she is by my feet. It's going to be hard when I go back to work, for both of us.

Memorial Day through Labor Day

There is one accomplishment I achieved between the official start and end of the summer.

I've lost 27.5 lbs.

It's really just the tip of the iceberg. I have a lot more to lose, but I'm so proud of my loss so far. I start back on my diet this week.

Long time, no post

I’ve spent the summer concentrating on one thing; surgery and recovery. You may remember this swollen up knee which kept me from going to MD S&W and all the damage revealed by the MRI. On July 27^th I had a total knee replacement. The surgery went off without a hitch, but there are a few things I learned this summer that I wanted to share.

What I learned:

I have a high pain threshold, and a high pain medication threshold. What would be a high dose for a normal person was enough to just take the edge off my pain. My family and doctor were afraid I was becoming addicted. I was not and I am not.

If absolutely necessary, I can give myself an injection. I had a blood thinner which I had to inject two times a day in my belly. I was so glad when that was over and done with.

My local Health Department told me to put all my sharps in a container, tape it shut, (I had a red sharps container given to me), write “Do not recycle” on it and THROW IT IN THE REGULAR TRASH. Can you believe that????? When I questioned the woman I spoke with, she said that is what they tell all the diabetics that call them from the township, so it would apply to me too. I hung up the phone and cried.

You are never too old to need your mommy.

You can’t count on the people you thought you could.

I wasn’t ready for my mom and dad to leave, but as soon as I could drive myself to physical therapy, they packed up and left.

Nephew #2 will put down a video game to look at an incision. He thought the staples in mine were really cool.

I’d be happy working from home, or not working at all. I don’t want to go back to work in October.

Bezzie thinks my scar is cool. I think it looks too much like something Frankenstein would have. The nephews think it’s “looking really good”.

It's still a little swollen from Physical Therapy, but looking much better than it was in May.